What did you do on January 20, 2001?

[deutsey]

Did you protest Bush's Coronation? If so, when and where?

I was among the tens of thousands in DC that day participating in pro-democracy protests around the city. Although the mainstream media hardly mentioned the protests, I swear we outnumbered the Bush supporters that day.

It was cold, wet, and a very dark (both figuratively and literally) day, but it was one of the best days of my life as I stood with so many patriots from across the country who stood together against Bush and for our democracy.

Where were you that day and what did you do?

As we approach the next election, can we all remember how most of us were united that day in our opposition to the Usurper?

[nhtfopo]

1. Congratulations

I was at home though. I wanted to go to DC, but had no one to ride with. Oh and we live in a represenative republic, not a democracy...that's one thing I can never figure out about all of the democracy protests and people who go on faux news and talk about our great democracy. We don't live in a democracy, but no one ever actually says that. That's one of the many problems we have.

[deutsey]

15. We live in representative republic that

has increasingly expanded the mechanism of creating and perpetuating that republic, democracy (e.g., popular voting), to include wider circles of people.

What happened in 2000, in my opinion, was an attempt to roll that democratic trend backward (disenfranchisement of the right to vote).

The damn "representative republic" is still here (as strong as any banana republic you can imagine), but it's representing the corporations and the oligarchs, not the will of the people, hence my reference to pro-democracy protests and the reference to our republic as existing on the principles of democracy.

Welcome to DU. :hi:

Check out:

http://www.thomhartmann.com/tencommandments.shtml

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0604-01.htm

[pearl]

2. On the Phone with my sister in California

At that time I had not yet been able to get a computer with a
modum but I told my sister that the internet was the way to organize
and fight the theives. By August, I was up and running on the
"Info Super highway" My first stop was Mike Malloy's web page as
I had been missing him from his gig in Chicago. Anyway, through
MM I almost immediately found DU.
My street action days are probably over as I have bone problems, and
could die if thrown down on the ground and handcuffed. Anyway, just
glad the power of the internet has grown and may give us a shot
next year.

I heard someone say, "You don't steal elections to do good things"

"Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living"
Mother Jones

[Dirty Hippie]

3. My family and I protested

at the state capitol in Tallahassee. Cold and windy but we were there.

[ikojo]

4. I was in cold and rainy DC protesting

the coronation of King George II.

It was awesome!!!

Ate at a Chinese restaurant located in the same building as Public Citizen. Good food.

I love DC...

Since I allowed myself to be bumped on my return flight to STL, I was able to stay an extra day and went to the Holocaust museum.

[PaDUer]

19. I was in DC also

with my son..We were a block away and didn't see * get out of the car to march down the street as Bill and Hillary did..Of course, * is afraid to be anywhere without someone within 5'of him, wonder why..The ultimate was when Lott had his window down waving and smiling to the people, then all of a sudden, his face dropped and UP went the window when he was greeted with the finger and all those loving signs..Guess he lives in fantasy island also..Too bad his wig didn't fall out the window..Even though it was a horrible day with the freezing rains, we all let that administration know what we feel..One thing for certain, this entire mob knows how much they're loved.

[Hogarth]

22. Wasn't it Lott's car that got egged?

n/t

[peekaloo]

5. I regret I refused to turn on the telly (C-Span) that day

It may have brought a wry smile to my face to see the bastards' limo pelted with egg(s) and vegetables....if only momentarily.

Houston, Texas was a dismal place to be on that day. :evilfrown:

[Jim Sagle]

10. I don't think you would have seen it anyhow.

I don't believe it was covered.

[peekaloo]

12. love this account (what I based my post on)

http://www.americaheldhostile.com/ed030602.shtml
----------------
Then came that magic moment. I had switched to C-Span because I was growing sick of the commentators yakking it up or cutting away every time Dubya's motorcade came across one of the many thousands of robbed voters who booed him. C-Span was showing just sound and pictures, no talk. Then it happened. I had to look twice to make sure I was seeing what I was seeing. But there it was. So beautiful and so appropriate on this dark day.

The egg. That wonderful angry egg.
(snip)


But there it was. And soon it was joined by another, and another. I remember wishing that the limo would be turned into a raw, dripping obscenity on wheels but soon the driver realized what the gas pedal was for and they sped off.

-----------------

:D

[laruemtt]

6. i repeated

god help us - more times than i'd said it in my previous 48 years.

[soup]

7. listened, wept, cheered, watched, yelled at the tv

Remember listening to Indy Media live coverage - it was awesome. Had the tv on as well. What a disconnect that was.

with apologies to those who withstood the elements - Remember thinking the gloomy, gray, blustery weather was perfect for the occasion. A Mother Nature also weeps and mourns - and the Gods frown - sort of feeling.

Remember one announcer mentioning the protesters, and another saying something like 'but that's not what today is about' - how they tried, but failed, to gloss over the enormous presence - how they tried to ignore the huge number of people lining the route that weren't there in welcome, but in protest.

Remember watching the motorcade speed through one particular area - and seeing them stop for a few minutes where *jr was supposed to get out and walk - HA! - and laughing and cheering - and hoping *he'd never be able to get out of the car.

(Did they speed through where he was supposed to get out and walk and wave to the adoring and welcoming crowds - or was it a separate incident along the route? can't remember.)

Thank you for being there. Thank you for being a part of the presence they couldn't hide. Thank you for letting me see I was not alone.

[Terwilliger]

8. San Francisco had 10,000 angry people

people who just could not believe that this happened in America



OnEdit: added pic

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. Attended a protest

in Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square with several hundred others.

[IndianaGreen]

16. I did too!

Outside the Federal Building in Indianapolis.

[adadem]

11. Protesting in DC

with a large group from Michigan. My first ever protest...it was incredible. A group of us from West Michigan made our way into a courtyard behind the barricades. There were hardly any supporters in this area (actually anywhere for that matter). As the motorcade came by we were able to boo and yell at shrub....we were close enough that he looked at us.

Never would I have believed that the party would become what it has since. The solidarity felt that day never materialized into a stronger Democratic party. Thinking forward on that day everyone in that group thought we would be campaigning for Al Gore now. Never did I dream we would have what we have going on. Funny thing is...I have lost a lot of respect for Al Gore of late. Never would I have imagined.

[glitch]

13. Protest in San Francisco

Disappointing turnout but some good speakers and information. There was a DU table, but I don't know who was manning it.

[JohnKleeb]

14. With regret I say I stayed home

I wanted to go to the protest in DC, but I couldn't make it. Damn feels like years ago but I remember being disappointed that my dad couldn't take me, could be worse you know, my parents wanted to but they couldn't. I was 13 then, and you guys wonder why I act so weird when we get younger people. The year I was 13, was the year it all happened. Next year will be big too, no doubt about it.

[Padraig18]

17. I wore a black armband and protsted in front of City Hall in Chicago.

It was a sad day. :grr:

[greekspeak]

18. Remember VIVIDLY...I was s-it faced by noon

I also passed out at about 1:00 in the afternoon, and I woke up at 5 with a massive hangover. I was severely depressed that day...my grandmother passed away about 5 weeks before, 4 days before Gore's concession. Christmas had been a nightmare. It was April before I started getting back to normal. Very miserable time indeed.

[PlanetBev]

20. Protesting in downtown Los Angeles

Weather was beautiful, about 5,000 people, which is a lot for downtown L.A. Marched down Broadway for a rally at City Hall. I'm so glad I went out and did something, instead of staying home and feeling sorry for myself.

[Hogarth]

21. Mari and I were there with the rest of you...

... and it sure *was* a dreary day. We stayed at the State Plaza Hotel, and I'll bet we were the only Democrats in the joint.

We got there a couple days early and spent the days sight-seeing and sitting in the lobby watching the Hoi Paloi check in. What a rude bunch it was that we saw checking in. They treated the staff as if they were vassals, demanded extra service, and generally behaved badly.

We saw the governor of Tennessee and his family check in, accompanied by two body guards. Most of the ladies wore Republican Red, and many of the men sported cowboy hats.

What a treat it was to sit in the lobby sipping wine on the evening of the Inaugural Ball. We just sat there and took delight in watching them head out for the ball in their gauche finery. More than a couple stopped at the desk to complain about the accommodations and demand discounts as compensation.

Yes, the protests were awfully cold and wet, and too many things happened on that trip that I won't go into here. I won't bore you with a comic novel.

Vote Qumby!

[deutsey]

23. It's very interesting that this received only 22 hits

while these facile, unproductive attack posts receive a couple hundred.

Boy, my faith in our ability to beat Bush has certainly been bolstered today at DU.

:evilfrown:

[Isere]

24. In memory of that dread day

Here is a little item that sums it all up:

http://flash.bushrecall.org/

My fervent hope is that Democrats will rally around our nominee so there is no repeat of this hijacking. Haven't we had enough?

[proud patriot]

25. I watched the protests from my living room

2 sleepless months later I hopped onto the
internet for the first time in my life
to find Democratic Underground.com that
place I saw on that sign on T.V.

I don't think I've left the internet since .

[canuckagainstBush]

26. Interesting...

I was in Lake Placid, New York on a luge trip. I wasn't happy seeing *'s face on the front of USA Today at the hotel.

[Orrin_73]

27. I saw those protests on tv

but I live in Holland and we have a fairly liberal media, thank God.

deanforamerica.com
clark04.com
kucinich.us
sharpton2004.org

[bushedout]

28. Stayed in bed with my now ex-boyfriend and

screwed, screwed, screwed.

[Vadem]

33. You're on the wrong forum if all you can think about is....

screwing! God help us!

[meti57b]

29. I happened to turn on TV and see a couple guys hold up a .....

banner that read: "democraticunderground.com". I checked it out. So, at least something good happened that day.

[stevedeshazer]

30. It was Saturday

Back when many of us had jobs. It was quiet at work. I was alone watching the TV in the break room. Poppy cried in public. I cried alone. For different reasons. I'll never forget it. Never.

[Vadem]

31. Although I am only five miles from DC, I wanted to go to the..

protest, but I had a horrible case of the flu. Instead, I spent the day taping on my VCR every channel of that day and of the inaugural(sp?)celebrations. Believe me, I was sick to my stomach and not only from the flu. I have about three full videos of what happened that day.

[Aunt Eunice]

32. The high point of my day..

..was watching Bill Clinton's fairwell at the Air Force base.